Nearly two-thirds of chief diversity officers (CDOs) at colleges report they are the first to hold that role at their school, according to a study of CDOs in higher education, health care and academic medicine published by Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm for nonprofits. These administrators have become increasingly prominent at higher ed institutions and […]
A recent heavy rainstorm flooded an apartment complex near Central Michigan University, displacing a number of students. Several had nowhere else to stay. To the rescue: Central Michigan’s Student Emergency Fund, a financial reserve provided by private donors to help students manage unexpected emergencies such as illness, death of relatives, eviction or medical bills. “The […]
While most institutions use financial aid systems to award and distribute regular financial aid, that isn’t always the case with emergency aid. Usually, each student’s situation must be evaluated to determine whether emergency financial help is warranted and if so, at what level. That process isn’t always built into the standard financial aid system—so institutions […]
While most states faced with continuing budget shortfalls have put a cap on new faculty hires, Florida is taking a different approach. Throughout the state, colleges and universities are hiring faculty to accommodate growing high-demand fields like health and engineering—and, in some cases, to boost their prestige. New hires are expected at the University of Florida, […]
Universities are home to some of the most prestigious art collections in the world, so administrators should be prepared in case an unforeseen incident occurs. Creating a fine art insurance program can help protect your university’s treasures for generations—and getting started is easier than you may think. Consider these five steps: 1. Identify the property to be insured. […]
As the term “free college” draws applicants and ever-more media attention, states, cities and colleges are learning the realities of these large-scale aid programs. In Oregon, due to an $8 million deficit in state appropriations for its $40 million Promise program, only 4 out of 5 eligible students (recent high school grads and GED holders) […]
Students and faculty at 10 colleges and universities will work with surrounding communities to improve race relations, social justice and tolerance through newly created campus Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation centers. The program, backed by $30,000 American Association of Colleges & Universities grants, takes on greater importance in the wake of the protests in Charlottesville, […]
What roadblocks are colleges coming up against in expanding access for hard-of-hearing students during class and at live events? “While budgets and regulatory awareness can be roadblocks to accessing university classes and events, technology is the greatest challenge to delivering live captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing community. “From lecture halls to football […]
The strategic plans of every administrator and department must work collectively toward the overall goals of a college or university. It’s a bit like playing dominoes where each tile connects to another but always links back to the first tile played. Sounds simple but it’s not a common practice at higher education institutions. Act like […]
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA—Jairy Hunter's introduction to higher ed came when he failed to land a starting position on the football team at Wingate University in North Carolina. That setback led the former high school state champion to drop out only a year later and enlist in the Army. After finishing his military service, he found […]
